Saugus Selectman Julie Mitchell claims Horlick bullied her

Wednesday

May 1, 2013 at 12:01 AMMay 1, 2013 at 1:12 AM

Members of the Board of Selectmen offered contrasting thoughts regarding an article passed at last week’s special Town Meeting which, if approved by the Massachusetts State Legislature, would amend the town charter to reduce the number of votes needed to renew or extend the town manager’s contract.

Nick Malfitano/nmalfitano@wickedlocal.com

Members of the Board of Selectmen offered contrasting thoughts regarding an article passed at last week’s special Town Meeting which, if approved by the Massachusetts State Legislature, would amend the town charter to reduce the number of votes needed to renew or extend the town manager’s contract.

An article seeking the charter amendment to drop the number of votes required to extend or renew a town manager’s contract sailed through at special Town Meeting by a margin of 29-11, with two abstentions.

When Selectman Stephen Horlick motioned to approve sending a letter to the Legislature to advocate for the passage of the charter amendments on staggered elections and the town manager contract renewal, both Chairman Michael Serino and Selectman Debra Panetta voted in favor. In contrast, selectmen Stephen Castinetti and Julie Mitchell abstained from the vote.

During members’ motions, Horlick, Panetta and Serino all thanked Town Meeting for supporting the article.

“I want to thank Town Meeting last night for the articles they passed,” said Horlick. “There were a lot of people with good viewpoints.”

Panetta and Serino agreed.

“I want to thank the Town Meeting members who supported the two articles for the staggered elections and three-out-of-five (votes) to extend the town manager’s contract,” said Serino.

Castinetti didn’t comment on the matter, but Mitchell elaborated on a disagreement she had with Horlick at Town Meeting.

“Last night at Town Meeting, Selectman Horlick and I spoke, and he said some things that I didn’t agree with,” Mitchell said. “I was very upset and very hurt.”

Mitchell said she asked Serino to accompany her when speaking with Horlick and expressed her distaste of how Horlick treated her.

“He yelled at me, he got into my face and was very intimidating,” said Mitchell.

Mitchell said the board was attempting to become unified, but she felt she was on the receiving end of constant digs from Horlick.

Horlick disagreed with Mitchell’s account of the confrontation.

“I was leaving, and Selectman Mitchell said, ‘I have to talk to you right now,’” said Horlick. “I was going outside and I was just saying that I had to leave. It was 10 and I needed to be somewhere.”

Due to being pressed for time, Horlick said he didn’t have the time to answer Mitchell’s questions and offered to discuss them with Mitchell over the phone, but Mitchell wanted to talk about them immediately.

Mitchell responded that she felt Horlick was saying things that weren’t true and claimed he tried to bully her, adding that perhaps the matter should be resolved in an executive session.

Serino emphasized the importance of board members treating each other respectfully and the matter came to a close.

Here is a rundown of other developments at the April 23 selectmen meeting

· Former Saugus resident Jim McLoughlin, now of Salem, N.H., addressed the board on his desire to donate a park bench to the Anna Parker Playground in memory of his deceased friend and fellow former Saugonian Frank Brown.

“It’s already been accepted with (Saugus Youth & Recreation Director) Greg Nickolas, and if it is accepted tonight, we’ll work with them as far as specifications and materials,” he said. “We want it to be something low-maintenance.”

McLoughlin added that it would be a basic bench with a simple inscription.

Panetta asked McLoughlin if there would be a dedication ceremony, and McLoughlin replied nothing has been finalized, but noted perhaps mid-summer would be an appropriate time for such a ceremony since it marks the one-year anniversary of Brown’s passing.

Castinetti grew up around the corner from the Brown family and has known them for many years. He expressed his appreciation of the gesture and made a motion to accept the donation of the bench, which was unanimously approved.

· Victor Buonfiglio & Paul Buonfiglio III, the co-owners and operators of Boston Cremation, offered to withdraw their application to locate an undertaking business in a high-rise business and industrial zoning district on Route 1, without prejudice. This request was communicated to the board through the Buonfiglios’ attorney, Richard M. Magnan, and approved by the selectmen.

· The Saugus Veterans Council requested a permit for the annual Memorial Day Parade, which will be held on Saturday, May 25, at 9 a.m.

The parade will form on Jackson Street at 8 a.m. and begin at 9 a.m. The parade route will go from Jackson Street to Lincoln Avenue, Lincoln Avenue to Central Street, Central Street to Winter Street, Winter Street to Riverside Cemetery, with a memorial service at Riverside Cemetery, and then set out from Riverside Cemetery to Winter Street, Winter Street to Central Street, Central Street to Saugus Center and commence with a service at Town Hall.

Veterans Council Executive Officer Paul Allan cordially invited the Board of Selectmen to participate in the parade and ceremonies.

Castinetti said military vehicles were being looked at for inclusion in this year’s parade and reminded the public that the Friday before the ceremony at 3 p.m. every veteran’s grave at Riverside Cemetery would receive an American flag through the efforts of local children.

“The kids really turn out in great numbers,” said Castinetti.

Castinetti also praised local resident and Vietnam veteran Gordon Shepard for his involvement on behalf of veterans and noted that this year’s keynote speaker for the service would be U.S. Navy Lt. Commander Steve Harris (Ret.)

Harris was a member of the U.S.S. Pueblo when North Korean forces boarded the vessel in international waters on January 23, 1968. Harris, along with 81 of his fellow sailors, was held captive in a North Korean prison for exactly 11 months, until his release on December 23, 1968.

· The board approved a transfer of an alcoholic beverage and entertainment license from Evos Group, Inc. to EKB Corporation, Inc. — essentially transferring the current licenses from Suleyman Celimli to Elaine K. Byrne to run Sully C’s Bar & Grill on Route 1.

The plan calls for Celimli to remain as the day-to-day manager until Byrne completes her instruction on restaurant management, at which time she will take over as the fulltime manager of Sully C’s.

In a letter addressed to the board, Byrne detailed how the same menu will be used and the only change to the floor plan would be the addition of three coin-operated pool tables. Byrne indicated a desire to be open for business seven days a week, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Panetta expressed concern about the proposed late hours having a detrimental effect on the surrounding neighborhood.

“You want your business to be successful, and we want the neighbors to be happy,” said Panetta.

Gregor stressed that Sully C’s was not a nightclub, noting the later hours are in order to accommodate customers watching sports broadcasts airing from the west coast.

Serino echoed Panetta’s concerns and asked if Byrne would be agreeable to a 12:30 a.m. closing time instead of 1 a.m.

Gregor conferred with his client briefly and said he and Byrne would “respect the board’s decision” if that was the case.

The board approved the application, with the business hours being set from 11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.